Tepper Isn't Going Out

Tepper enjoys sitting in his car, reading his newspaper in peace. His car always seems to be parked in a prime spot and other drivers want to know if Tepper is going out. He isn't. This drives some people crazy - including the mayor - but leads others to think Tepper harbors some hidden wisdom. The tale that emerges is "refreshing and completely likable."

Dorothy Must Die

I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t ask to be some kind of hero. But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado - taking you with it - you have no choice but to go along, you know? Sure, I’ve read the books. I’ve seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little bluebirds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can’t be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion.

Return of the Rose

Morgan Hayes grows up in the 20th century with a mysterious attraction to a hollow suit of armor that stands in the window of her mother’s antique store. She is 24 years old when she becomes entangled within the armor’s metal plates and is whisked back in time where she is mistaken for a twin sister she knows nothing about. Morgan is forced to marry King Henry’s favored knight, Derek Vanguard, Lord of Braddock Hall. Abandoned by his mother, Derek’s heart is as cold as the stone walls of his castle....

I would listen to this book again because I find English history from this period quite interesting. There is a sufficient amount of detail about the lives of people of this era to make the story worth reading from that point of view.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Morgan Hayes (the protagonist) is my favorite character. She seems to be the most believable - at least for those of us reading the story in the 21st century.

Have you listened to any of Katherine Kellgren’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I also read A Knight in Central Park. Both books are very similar in that they are clearly written by and told from a woman's point of view. That is, the characters are in the middle of what could be a very action-packed scenario and the author goes on at great length about the various emotions Morgan Hayes, and other characters are feeling before continuing with the fighting, escape or whatever. This is okay, it's interestingly done, but as someone reading a review of this book, you may want to know this ahead of time.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

This is an interesting story with many exciting moments, not one stands out above the others, particularly.

Any additional comments?

I liked both of the author's books that I have read so far. I have seen that she has written a third, similar book, and I will probably read that as well.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: A Novel

Meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does, even down to how he butters his toast. Little differentiates one day from the next. Then one morning the mail arrives, and within the stack is a letter addressed to Harold from a woman he hasn't seen or heard from in 20 years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye. Harold pens a quick reply and, leaving Maureen to her chores, heads to the corner mailbox. But then Harold has a chance encounter, one that convinces him that he absolutely must deliver his message to Queenie in person.

Girl Walks into a Bar...: Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters, and a Midlife Miracle

Anyone who saw an episode of Saturday Night Live between 1999 and 2006 knows Rachel Dratch. She was hilarious! So what happened to her? After a misbegotten part as Jenna on the pilot of 30 Rock, Dratch was only getting offered roles as "Lesbians. Secretaries. Sometimes secretaries who are lesbians." Her career at a low point, Dratch suddenly had time for yoga, dog- sitting, learning Spanish - and dating. After all, what did a forty-something single woman living in New York have to lose?

I would listen to this book again. It's a nice story, nothing overly serious. One can just sit back, relax and enjoy. Those of us who have watched Saturday Night Live through the years will find those sections of the book interesting.

If you’ve listened to books by Rachel Dratch before, how does this one compare?

I've never listened to other books by Rachel Dratch before, but after listening to this one, I would be interested.

Have you listened to any of Rachel Dratch’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've never listened to other performances by Rachel Dratch before.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I never listen to an entire book in one sitting. I prefer 1 to 3 hours at a time.

Any additional comments?

If you are undecided about what book you want to purchase, this is a good choice. I think you will find it a fun listen.

Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything

Today, encyclopedias, jetliners, operating systems, mutual funds, and many other items are being created by teams numbering in the thousands or even millions. While some leaders fear the burgeoning growth of these massive online communities, Wikinomics proves this fear is folly. Smart firms can harness collective capability and genius to spur innovation, growth, and success.

In the future, people (mainly youngsters) and forward-looking corporations will collaborate and accomplish amazing things. There, I just saved you 13 hours of listening to this book. Talk about having one idea and beating it to death over and over and over. Also, the narrator uses the same inflection for every single sentence he reads making it just that much more painful to listen to. My advice: skip this book.

Nella Last's War: The Second World War Diaries of 'Housewife 49'

In September 1939 housewife and mother Nella Last began a regular diary that lasted for 30 years. The account that she left of life during the Second World War is moving, fascinating, and unique. While Nella's younger son joined the army, she and the rest of the family tried to adapt to the transformed rhythms of life in Barrow-in-Furness, which suffered terribly from enemy bombing raids. Writing each day for the "Mass-Observation" project, Nella's diary entries tell a powerful story about the war years.

This is an interesting story of a time in history well known to everyone, but from the perspective of a housewife. This makes it more interesting because of the focus on matters that are not always discussed in other books or on TV in documentaries.

The reason I only give this book 3 stars is because of the narration. The person reading the book annoyingly switches between a normal speaking voice and whispering *very* frequently. Since I listen to books while driving, I can't be constantly adjusting the volume and so either the volume was so loud that the book was shouted at me or I missed half of what was being said.

Otherwise, this book presented a nice personal side of this time in English history.

Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery

Amazing Grace tells the story of the remarkable life of the British abolitionist William Wilberforce (1759-1833). This accessible biography chronicles Wilberforce's extraordinary role as a human rights activist, cultural reformer, and member of Parliament. At the center of this heroic life was a passionate 20-year fight to abolish the British slave trade, a battle Wilberforce won in 1807, as well as efforts to abolish slavery itself in the British colonies.

This is a fascinating book about a man that is seldom mentioned in history texts but contributed a great deal to the world. The book gets off to a slow start, the first hour or so devoted to praising Wilberforce before getting on with the story of his life. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this book!

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